Kamloops Watering Restrictions: Your Watering Days and What Each Level Means

In Kamloops, the last two digits of your street address set your lawn watering days. At normal levels (0 to 3), you can water your lawn three days a week. At Level 4, it drops to one day a week. The City went to Level 4 on July 20, 2026. We found no City notice lifting it by October 1, so check the City's page first. Sprinklers are never allowed from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

What day can I water my lawn in Kamloops?

Kamloops doesn't use odd and even days. It splits homes into three groups by the last two digits of the street address. Here's the City's schedule.

Address ends in	Normal (3 days a week)	Level 4 (1 day a week)
00 to 30 (Group A)	Sunday, Tuesday, Friday	Tuesday
31 to 60 (Group B)	Monday, Wednesday, Saturday	Wednesday
61 to 99 (Group C)	Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday	Thursday

So if you live at 1247, your number is 47. You're in Group B. Under Level 4, your lawn day is Wednesday.

Live in a strata or a townhouse complex? Use the street address of the complex, not your unit number. The City's own example: Unit 15 at 1786 uses 86. That means the whole complex waters on the same day.

Hours matter too. Irrigation isn't allowed between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on any day. The City says the best time for automatic sprinklers is midnight to 7 a.m.

What do the drought levels mean for my lawn?

Kamloops ties its rules to the Province's drought level for the South Thompson River. Levels 0 to 3 count as normal. Level 4 is heightened. Level 5 is severe.

Level	Lawn sprinklers	Lawn hand watering	New lawn permits
0 to 3 (normal)	3 days a week	3 days a week	Yes
4 (heightened)	1 day a week	1 day a week	Yes
5 (severe)	Not allowed	1 day a week	No new permits

Hand watering means a hose with a spring-loaded nozzle, or a watering can. Trees, shrubs, flowers and food plants are different. You can hand water those at any time, at every level.

Is Kamloops still at Level 4 this fall?

The City announced Level 4 on July 17, 2026. It took effect Monday, July 20. The City said it would stay until conditions improve and the City decides to move to a lower level.

We checked the City's news releases on October 1. We found no notice that Level 4 has ended. That doesn't prove it's still on. It means you should look before you water.

The City follows the Province's drought level, but the final call belongs to the City's Utility Services Manager. When the level changes, the City posts it on its website. The new rules start 24 hours after posting.

The easy habit: check the City's water use page before you reset your sprinkler timer.

Do these rules apply to every home in Kamloops?

No. They apply to homes on the City's drinking water system. If another provider supplies your water, ask them about their rules.

For City customers, the rules cover all outdoor water use. The City even says kids running through the sprinkler counts. The rules sit in Waterworks Bylaw No. 12-31. The City starts with education. But a ticket is possible under Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 43-15.

Putting in new sod or seed? You can apply for a permit to water it more often. A standard permit lasts 21 days. The City says most applications are handled in 5 business days or less. Call 250-828-3461 for help.

How much water does a Kamloops lawn need?

Less than most people think. The City says a lawn needs about 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water a week. That's one or two good soaks, not a little water every other day.

Here's the City's simple test to find your sprinkler time:

1. Set a few empty tuna cans at different distances from the sprinkler. A tuna can is about 2.5 cm deep.
2. Time how long it takes to fill them, on average.
3. Use that time once or twice a week in summer.
4. Cut that time by up to half in spring and fall.

Sandy soil drains faster than silt or clay. So two shorter soaks may suit a sandy yard better than one long one.

Not sure if the lawn needs water at all? The City suggests a step test. Step on the grass. If it springs back, skip watering. If it's slow to come back, it's time. If it stays flat, you waited too long.

And don't walk away from a running hose. The City asks people not to leave sprinklers or hoses unattended.

Is a brown lawn in Kamloops a dead lawn?

Usually not. In its Level 4 notice, the City said a brown lawn is a normal response to hot, dry weather. It said dormant grass recovers when cooler, wetter weather returns. It also said a brown lawn doesn't raise wildfire risk.

Kamloops is dry. Environment Canada's normals for Kamloops Airport show about 278 mm of rain and snow in a whole year. September averages about 29 mm. October averages about 19 mm.

That means fall rain here is light. A lawn that went dormant in a dry summer may green up slowly. If your level allows it, a weekly soak on your day helps it along.

Summer use is the big strain. The City says the average resident uses about 800 to 850 litres a day. In summer, that climbs to about 1,800 litres. About 80 percent of summer water goes outdoors, mostly on grass, driveways and cars.

How should I mow when watering is limited?

Good mowing saves water. The City's lawn tips line up with how a good crew mows anyway:

• Keep it 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches) tall. That's about a finger length. Taller grass shades the roots and slows evaporation.
• Cut no more than one third at a time. The City's example: if grass is 9 cm, take off 3 cm and leave 6 cm.
• Leave the clippings. The City says they can give your lawn about one third of the nutrients it needs. Our post on leaving grass clippings explains how.

Don't forget the boulevard. In Kamloops, the owner next to it is responsible for mowing and trimming that strip of grass.

A slow, dry lawn needs fewer cuts than a lawn in a wet spring. Our FAQ on how often to mow in Canada explains how to set the schedule.

What should a Kamloops lawn get this fall?

The season is short now. Environment Canada's normals put Kamloops's average first fall frost around October 10. Grass slows down as nights get cold, but it still needs a cut or two.

Leaves land at the same time. A thick layer can smother grass that's trying to recover from a dry summer. A fall cleanup clears them and gives the lawn a tidy last cut. Our Kamloops yard waste guide covers where the leaves can go.

Weeds can creep into thin, dry spots. Kamloops limits pesticides on residential lawns, and our partner crews don't spray.

Who can keep my Kamloops lawn on track?

Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Kamloops. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee.

With the Worry-Free Lawn Season, the same crew comes every visit. They text you a photo after every cut. If they miss your scheduled window, that cut is free. Your crew handles the lawn mowing and trimming. Watering on your address day stays with you. We also serve other B.C. cities.

Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.

Kamloops Watering Restrictions Questions

Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Kamloops water use, Level 4 notice, July 2026, Kamloops healthy lawns, Kamloops xeriscape, Boulevard maintenance, Kamloops pesticide use, Climate normals, Kamloops A.